Opposition parties discuss pre-poll alliance, common minimum programme

New Delhi: Moving forward on a united anti-BJP Front for the Lok Sabha elections, top Opposition leaders agreed to work together to prepare a common minimum programme to oust the Modi government and to consider forging a pre-poll alliance.

The meeting hosted by NCP president Sharad Pawar at his residence saw top Opposition leaders, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi and AAP president and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal.

West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee and her Andhra Pradesh counterpart N. Chandrababu Naidu vowed to work together due to “democratic compulsions to save India”.

The meeting was held after the Aam Aadmi Party protest rally at Jantar Mantar. After the meeting, Mr Gandhi said, “We will work together to defeat the BJP.” Mr Kejriwal termed the talks constructive and said the Opposition will work together.”

There were indications that the Congress and the AAP, bitter rivals since the regional party came to power in Delhi in 2015, may be part of the tie-up.
Ms Banerjee called the meeting “fruitful” and asserted, “We will do pre-poll alliance if needed.”

Opposition leaders will keep meeting in the coming days for better coordination, she said.

Earlier in the day, Ms Banerjee had said, “Any fight with the Congress will remain in the state. At the national level, we will fight together, this I am saying from the heart. For the greater interest of the country, I am ready to sacrifice my life, my party. I am ready to sacrifice everything.”

Mr Naidu said there was a democratic compulsion to save India while Farooq Abdullah of the National Conferences termed the meeting “good”.